I Know I’m Just a Kid but I’m Not Stupid

My name’s Michael Washburn and I’m ten years old.  At least that’s what they tell me -- my grandparents.  We live just outside of Snowflake, Vermont in an old farmhouse.  This place used to have cows and a dairy and everything, now there’s just a barn.  No cows, no horses, nothing much at all.  I can go anywhere I want as long as I stay on the land, but I’m not allowed to go to school or play with any other kids.

I don’t know any other kids anyway.  I’d have to go to school for that, but my grandmother believes I’ll be better off if I’m home schooled.  I do okay.  She tells me I’m smart and that I’m keeping up with all the kids who do go to school.  She takes good care of me and I love my grandparents and everything, but . . . I’m kinda lonely.  You know, not having anybody to play with.  My grandfather’s okay.  He’s kinda grumpy but he’s all right.  I have lots of toys and baseballs and stuff but nobody to hang out with, nobody to have fun with. 

We’ve moved around a lot.  I don’t remember all the places we’ve been, but at least we’ve been able to stay here for a few years.  Some of the other places we’ve lived, we’ve had to leave in a hurry and sometimes we only stayed in one town or city for a few months.  I kept asking my grandparents why we had to move so much but I never got a really good answer. 

I wish my mother would come and get me.  I miss her – a lot.  I still remember her and I keep asking where she is.  If I tell you this, you can’t tell anyone else, okay?  They told me she was dead.  But I don’t believe it.  I won’t believe it.  If my mother was dead, I’d know it.  I don’t know how, but I’d know.  I just can’t figure out why they’re so nice to me but want me to believe she’s really dead.  I know she wouldn’t forget about me.  I know she’d come for me if she could.  There must be some other reason.  I just wish I could figure it out.  

There are more adventures to come in Snowflake, Vermont when A Clue in the Stew (available for pre-order now) is released in April 2016.  

And stay tuned for the Killer Characters holiday giveaway beginning  November 25th!

You can visit Connie on the web at Connie Archer Mysteries and sign up for her newsletter, and at Facebook.com/ConnieArcherMysteries and Twitter @SnowflakeVT.